Journal box jack



Feb 21, 1933. a. VON K. HOTT JOURNAL BOX JACK Filed Jan. 6, 1930 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATT ENT -"OFFI CEF 1011 von KERT HOTT', OF DAYTON, OHIO, AssIGN'o'R fro "THE J'OYCE-GRIDLAND COMPANY, or n nYroN, OHIO, A oon'roim'rroivon oHio JonnnAL Box JACK Application filed January 6,1930. Serial No. 418,731.

This invention relates to a journal box jack and one object of the invention is to provide a jack of such a character that the journal box may be quickly and easily elevated a distance suflicient to permit theremoval or inspection of the hearing or brass. Journal box jacks as heretofore used have,

for the most part, at least, been of two types. In one type the standard or frame is supported on the ties or ballast below the ournal box and in the other type the standard or frame is suspended from the journal itself. In both instances'the lifting element is actuated by a step by step movement, usually by a pawl and ratchet mechanism, which results in a slow operation. Under many con ditions, particularly during the inspection of empty cars, it is highly desirable that means be provided whereby the journal box 2 can be very quickly and easily elevated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a journal box jack which may be suspended from the journal and which Wlll be of such a character that a single downward movement of an operating lever will elevate the journal box the desired distance.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a jack which will be simple in its construction andoperation and W111 be of a strong durable character.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a jack embodying my invention, showing the same applied to a journal and journal box; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a section taken on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the head which engages the, journal; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bar forming part of the lever partly broken away.

In the drawing I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that the apparatus 'may take various forms without departing from .50 the spirit of the invention.

.to engagethe end of the journal.

the body of the frame.

In that form here illustrated-the jack comprises a supporting-frame orstandard porting engagement with the end of the 5 journal 12 within that box.. Pivotally mounted at the lower end of'tlie' frame is a lever 13 having a part extending beneath the journal box and adapted to engage the same when the lever is operated and lift the box with relation to thejournal a distance suflicient to permit the removal or inspection ofthe hearing or brass 1 1. As here shown, the frame 10 is C-shapedandthe upper end thereof extends into the outer 5 portion of the journal. box and has a part 15 In the present construction the part 15 is formed separately from the frame and-is pivotally mounted thereon. In order that this part, or supporting head, may beadjusted to accommodate it to journals of different sizes orkinds it preferably comprisestwo overlapping members or bars 16 and 17 which are connected one to the other by a screw 18,one of the members being slotted, as shown at 19, to permit them to be adjusted longitudinally with relation one to the other. The two members v have in their outer sides andat the upper'portions thereof sockets 20 to receive a rounded end portion 21 of the body of the frame, thus pivotally connectingthe supporting head with Each baror member, 16 and 17 has an inwardly extending 8 jaw 22, the jaws being spaced apart a dis tance suificient to permit them to embrace the end portion of the journal 12 above the horizontal center thereof, whereby the frame will be supported on the journal. To .9

prevent the endwise movement of the supporting head with relation to the journal the jaws are provided with recesses 23 to receive the flange 24 on the end of the journal. The construction of. this supporting when the journalbox has been elevated .the

supporting head will not lie in the path of or interfere with the removal of the brass.

The lower portion of the frame 10 extends beneath the journal box and is preferably slotted to receive the lever 13 which is mounted therein by means of a pivot pin 25.

The lever has a relatively long actuating box and lift the same whenthe lever is actu ated. Preferably this part is separate from and pivotally connected with the toe 28 of the lever. As here shown, it is in the form of a block or lifting element 29 having at its lateral edges downwardly extending flanges 30 spaced apart to form a slot into which the toe 28 of the lever extends. Each flange has in its lower portion an inclined slot 31 the upper wall of. which is provided with a plurality of recesses 32 adapted to receive studs 33 projecting from the opposite sides of the toe 28 of the lever and which may be in the form of a pin extending through the lever. The supporting studs 33 may be seated in any of the recesses 32 on the respective sides of the lifting element and because of the inclined position of the slots 31 the distance between the upper surface of the lifting element and the axis of the lever may be varied, thus enabling the lifting element to be so adjusted with relation to the body of the lever that it will be in close operative relation to the journal box before the lever has been actuated. Thus it will be apparent that when the jack has been placed in position on the journal a single downward movement of the actuating portion of the lever will serve to elevate the journal box with relation to the journal a distance .sufiicient to permit the removal of the brass.

The arrangement of the lever is such that a powerful lever action is secured, which is ample to enable a single operator to lift the journal box on an-empty or lightly loaded car.

For the purpose of retaining the journal box in its elevated position, during'the removal or inspection of the brass means are provided for retaining the lever in the position to which it has been moved with relation to the frame 10. struction a curved latch bar 3% is pivotally mounted at it upper end on a pivot pin 35 mounted on pivot lugs36 carried by the frame. The lower portion of this latch bar extends through a slot or. opening 37 in the part 26 of the lever and has on its outer edge a series of ratchet teeth 38 which are adaptln the present con ed to engage a lug or tooth 39 at the outer end of the slot 37 and thus lock the lever against upward movement. A spring 40, which is preferably coiled about the pivot pin 35, acts on the latch bar to move the same outwardly and thus cause the teeth 38 to automatically engage the lug 39, it being aparent that the latch bar will yield to permit the downward movement of the lever but that the engagement of the lug 39 with one of the teeth 38 will prevent the upward movement of the lever. When it is desired to lower the journal box the lever may be released by retracting the latch bar, which may be co venientlv done by pressing against the lower portion thereof with the foot. To prevent the possibilitv of the operators shoe being caught between the lever and the teeth 38, in case he presses against that portion of the latch bar which is above the lever, the latter is provided with a flange ll which extends outwardly a distance equal to the depth of the teeth 38 and closes the spaces between those teeth at one end. 7

The removable portion 27 of the lever is in the form of a bar which may be inserted inand removed from a socket d2 formed in the outer end of the integral part 26 of the lever. This bar is prererablv of such a character that it may be mounted in difit will be a parent that the outer portion of j the bar will extend upwardly with relation to the part 26 of the lever, but if the bar is moved about its longitudinal axis so that the angular end portion l3 thereof extends downwardly then the outer portion of the lever will be inclined downwardly with relation to the part 26 of the lever. The opposite end of the bar, as shown atl l, is also ada ted to enter the socket and-when this end of the bar is inserted in the socKet the bar will extend in line with the part 26 of the lever. In order that the oar may be held against rotation in the socket the end portions thereof are flattened, as shown at 45, and the socket has a'fiattened portion to engage the flattened portion of the bar and hold the same against rotation. In the present construction this flattened portion of the socket is formed by a pin 46 extending through the upper portion of the socket.

It will'be apparent, therefore, that I have provided a jack which is very simple in its construction and operation and is of'such a character that it mav be very easily mounted lift the journal box, the desired lifting movement being imparted to the ournal box by a single movement of the lever. The adjustability of the lifting element 29 enables the same to be so adjustedwith relation to the different journal boxes that there will be a minimum of lost motion at the beginning of the lifting operation, and the actuating bar or handle 27 may beso adjusted with relation to the body of the lever as to best adapt it to the narticular journal box which is to be lifted or to a position most convenient to the operator.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v

1. In journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with the journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a part to en gage said journal box and lift the same, and means to retain said lever in the position to which it has been moved with relation to said frame.

2. In a journal box jack, a C-shaped frame provided at its upper end with a part to enter said journal box and engage a journal therein to support said frame on said journal, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on the lower end of said frame and having on one side of its axis a part to extend beneath and engage said journal box, said lever having onthe other side of its axis an elongated actuating portion, and means to retain said lever in the position to which it has been moved with relation to said frame.

3. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with the journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, having a relatively long actuating portion on one side of its axis and having on the other side of its axis a relatively short portion extending at an angle to said actuating portion, and a lifting ele ment having depending flanges to embrace the last mentioned portion of said lever, each of said flanges having an inclined slot and each of said slots having a series of recesses in the upper edge thereof, and studs projecting from the last mentioned portion of said lever through said slots and adapted to be seated in any one of the recesses in the edges of the respective slots.

4. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with a journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on 5. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with a journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a part to engage said journal box and lift the same, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said frame and having teeth on one edge thereof, a lug carried by said lever to engage saidteeth and hold said lever in the positionto which it has been moved, and a spring acting on said latch bar to cause said teeth to engage said lug.

6. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with a journal therein, a lever ivotally mounted on said frame and having a part to engage said journal box and lift the same, said lever having an opening therethrough spaced from its axis and having a lug extending into said opening,'a curved latch barpivotally mounted at its upper end on said frame, extending through the opening in said lever and having teeth arranged to engage said lug,'and a spring acting on said latch bar to hold the same normally in engagement with said lug.

7. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with a journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a part to engage said journal box and lift the same, said lever having an opening therethrough spaced from its axis and having a lug extending into said opening, a curved latch bar pivotally mounted at its upper end on said frame,

with said lug, said latch bar also having a flange extending alongside of said teeth to close the spaces between the same at one end thereof.

8. In a journal box jack, a rigid frame having at its upper end a part to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with the journal in said box, and a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on the lower end portion of said frame, said lever having a relatively short inner part to extend beneath and; into operative relation to said journal box and having a relatively long outer part provided with an operating handle, said parts of said lever being so arranged that a single downward movement of the actuating handle of said lever will cause said journal box to be elevated a distance suflicient to permit the removal of the brass, and cooperating parts carried by said frame and said lever to retain said lever in the position to which it has been moved, one of said parts being yieldable.

9. In a journal box, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with the journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, having a relatively long actuating portion on the outer side of its axis and having on the inner side of its axis a relatively. short portion extending upwardly at an angle to said actuating portion, and a lifting element pivotally mounted on the last mentioned portion of said lever to engage the bottom of said journal box and adjustable toward and from the axis of said lever.

10. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with a journal therein, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a part to engage said journal box and lift the same, and a latch bar mounted on saidframe, said latch bar and said lever having inter-engaging parts to retain said lever in the position to which it has been moved.

11. In a journal box jack, a frame having a part adapted to extend into a journal box and to have supporting engagement with a journal therein, said frame also having a part extending below said journal box, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on the last mentioned part of said frame and having a relatively long outer end portion and having a relatively short inner end portion extending upwardly at an angle to said outer end portion, and a lifting element to operatively engage said journal box, said lifting element and said upwardly extending end portion of said lever having cooperating parts to support said lifting element on said lever, one of said parts comprising a. plurality of seats spaced different distances above the axis of said lever and the other of said parts being adapted to operatively engage any one of said seats.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

ION VON KERT HOTT. 

